Phoenix Mercury coach says he wouldn’t let Brittney Griner play with Mavericks in Summer League

Dallas Morning News | Apr 23

As the Mavericks season ends and Mark Cuban has nothing to do in terms of basketball but think about free agency and who he is going to draft, the availability of one noteworthy name may be out the window.

Cuban said last week he would consider drafting former Baylor women’s basketball player Brittney Griner is she was good enough.

Griner was selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury earlier this month and maintains that is where her focus is. Mercury coach Corey Gaines’ focus is keeping her. In speaking the Valley of the Suns blog, Gaines said Griner’s opportunity to try out for an NBA team, and possibly play in the NBA Summer League, won’t come at the expense of his team.

“Summer League is messing with our games,” Gaines told the blog. “I think that won’t happen. That wouldn’t be a smart thing. If (Cuban) wants to talk about it, talk about it – it’s better for us.”